Thursday, November 29, 2012

Oregon National Guard Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees
(left), Adjutant General, Oregon, and Vietnam Lt. Gen. Tran Quang Khue, Vice
Chairman of the National Committee for Search and Rescue (VINASARCOM), sign the
State Partnership Program agreement at the Ministry of Defense Guest House in
Hanoi, Vietnam, Nov. 27. U.S. Ambassador
to Vietnam David Shear (center, yellow tie), and other Oregon and Vietnam officials
look on. The State Partnership Program
reflects an evolving international affairs mission for the National Guard,
emphasizing its unique state-federal and civil-military characteristics to
interact with both the active and reserve forces of foreign nations,
interagency partners, and international non-governmental organizations. Oregon also has a partnership with
Bangladesh. (Photo courtesy of U.S.
Embassy Hanoi).

HANOI, Vietnam—The
Oregon National Guard has signed a partnership with Vietnam as part of the State
Partnership Program during a ceremony held Nov. 27 at the Ministry of Defense
Guest House in Hanoi, Vietnam.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear, Oregon Army National
Guard Brig. Gen. Todd Plimpton, Assistant Adjutant General (Army), Oregon Air
National Guard Col. Mark Crosby, Oregon’s State Partnership Program Director,
and other Vietnam officials were on hand for the signing.

The agreement comes just as the United States begins
ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Events and commemorations to honor era
veterans and casualties are scheduled in both countries through the year 2025. For more information on anniversary
observances, go here.

The State Partnership Program reflects an evolving
international affairs mission for the National Guard, emphasizing its unique
state-federal and civil-military characteristics to interact with both the
active and reserve forces of foreign nations, interagency partners, and
international non-governmental organizations.

The State Partnership Program currently supports 62
partnerships between states and nations.
For more information about the program, download the SPP factsheet here.

The Oregon National Guard is also partnered with Bangladesh.

For more information contact Staff Sgt. Joseph Barto,
State Partnership Program, at joseph.barto@ang.af.mil, or 503-584-2237.Posted by Master Sgt. Nick Choy,Oregon Military Department Social Media Manager